Terracotta Army of First Emperor of China (2)

QIN Shi Huang conquered six kingdoms warring more than 200 years through a combination of military strength and strategy, and proclaimed himself the First Emperor of China in 221 B.C. He initiated a series of reforms aimed at establishing a fully centralized administration, and also established a single system of writing, currency, weights, measures, and laws. Construction of a network of roads, canals, and the Great Wall was begun. He was a merciless tyrant who was responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands who constructed his mausoleum, the Great Wall and other construction projects.

The construction of the Mausoleum of the Emperor Qin Shi Huang was the most gigantic project. It took as long as 38 years with the largest number of laborers. The First Emperor’s ambition was not only to control all aspects of the empire during his lifetime but to recreate the entire empire in microcosm for his afterlife.

He prepared for his own death by constructing 50-square km underground city with all the component of the royal palace of the Emperor when he was alive.

Approximately 1.6 kilometers east of the Qin Emperor’s tomb mound was Qin’s entire army, the terracotta warriors, from mighty generals to humble infantrymen, life-like and life-size in thousands arranged in battle formation stood guard over the Emperor. This was not known for more than 2,000 years. Ancient historian Sima Qian who described the construction of the tomb in his records never mentioned this vast terracotta army.

The Terracotta Army was discovered on 29 March 1974 by three peasants while digging a well. It was Pit 1 an area of the complex housing that contains the main army. This discovery prompted Chinese archaeologists to investigate, revealing the largest pottery figurine group ever found in China.
(To be continued) (Floro Mercene)

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ShibumiMC

Discussions continue around secondary issues – i.e. the design and construction of the terra cotta array – when the central question is – why was it built? It was built to commemorate the end of war. The array was intended to illustrate clearly – to the people of the new empire of China – exactly what the (stupid) cost of war was. Sadly – since the first empire fell, and since the site was recently discovered – the greatest of Qin Shi Huang has remained obscure. Here is the story: http://www.slideshare.net/ShibumiMC/the-first-emperor-of-china-fiction-fact – He was the greatest peacemaker ever.